Refrigerator and latch mechanism therefor



April 16, 1957 R. E. JOHNSON REFRIGERATOR AND LATCH MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed June 11, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INKEXTOR. Mao-10."

I'M aid April 16, 1957 R. E. JOHNSON REFRIGERATOR AND LATCH MECHANISM THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 11, 1952 ilnited States ?atent G REFRIGERATOR AND LATCH MECHANISM THEREFGR Robert E. Johnson, Marne, Mich, assignor to Jervis Corporation, a corporation of Michigan Application June 11, 1952, Serial No. 293,019

9 Claims. (Cl. 312291) This invention relates to an improved refrigerator and to a latch mechanism therefor, and in particular a refn'gerator having a gasketed freezing compartment door and a latch mechanism for use with such a door. It is an object of the invention to provide improved apparatus of that character.

A latch mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention is particularly adapted to use on freezing compartment doors of conventional domestic refrigerators. To this purpose the latch mechanism disclosed is so constructed that it may be very small while still being rugged and reliable in operation. The latch mechanism disclosed is provided with a collapsible handle such that the waste space between the freezing compartment door and the outer refrigerator door, when both doors are closed, may be held to a minimum. Furthermore the latch mechanism disclosed is adapted to exert a powerful door closing and gasket compressing force when it has been tripped from its cocked position as the door with which it cooperates approaches its closed position. Still further a latch mechanism constructed in accordance with one feature of the invention incorporates a rugged, reliable apparatus for returning the operating handle to its normal position.

Accordingly, it is another object of the invention to provide a gasketed freezing compartment door with a latch mechanism for a conventional domestic refrigerator.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved latch mechanism which may be very small in size While still being rugged and reliable in operation.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved latch mechanism for the freezing compartment door of a conventional domestic refrigerator, said latch mechanism having a collapsible handle whereby the space between said freezer door and the outer door may be reduced to a minimum.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved latch mechanism which may be cocked in its open position and which may, when tripped, exert a powerful closing force upon the door with which it cooperates.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved latch mechanism having very rugged, reliable apparatus incorporated therein for returning a latch operating handle to its normal position.

This invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals,

Fig. l is a cross-sectional plan View of a latch mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial, cross-sectional view of the same iatchmechanism taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l but 2,789,023 Patented Apr. 16, 1951 ice 2 with certain portions of the mechanism partially broken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional View of the same latch mechanism taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the mechanism in a different operating position; and

5 is an elevational view of a conventional domestic refrigerator in which the freezing compartment door and latch mechanism of Figs. 1-4 are applied.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in the r wings includes a latch mechanism having a supporting frame or housing 10, mounted on a freezing compartment door 11. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the door 11 extends across the width of a conventional domestic refrigerator as may be seen in Fig. 5.

The housing 1d of the latch mechanism is substantially channel shaped but has various portions struck from the two walls and the interconnecting web thereof for various purposes described below. A bolt member 12 is pivotally mounted on a pin 13 near the left-hand end of the housing, the pin 13 passing through the bolt member l2 and engaging the opposed walls of the housing 1%. A torsion spring 1 is wound about the pin 5.3, the ends of the spring engaging respectively an ear 3.4. struck from the web portion of the channel-shaped housing it) and the side of a tubular openings 12a in the bolt member 1'. It will be apparent upon reference to Eigs. l and 4 that the torsion spring 14 serves to bias the latch bolt 12 in a clockwise direction.

An actuator 15, essentially channel-shaped in cross section is also arranged within the housing 10 and extends from left to right over the major portion of the length of the housing. Near the left-hand end of the actuator is a cam roller 1% adapted to cooperate with certain cam surfaces on the latch bolt. The cam roller 16 is rotatahly mounted on a pin 17 which extends through the opposed walls of the channel-shaped actuator 15. Also rotatably mounted on the same pin 17 are a pair of rollers 13 for rolling along the web portion of the housing 10, one roller 13 being arranged at each side of the cam roller 16, all as may be seen in Figs. 2 and 3.

A compression spring 19 is provided for urging the actuator 15 to the left in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. The right-hand end of the compression spring 19 abuts against a leaf ltib preferably struck from the web portion of the channelshaped housing 19. The left-hand end of the spring 19 abuts against a leaf 15a struck from the web portion of the actuator 15. Accordingly, it may be seen that the spring acting between the two leaves lilb and 15a urges the actuator 15 to the left with respect to the housing 10.

It may be seen in Fig. 1 that the right-hand end of the actuator 15 rests against and slides along the web portion of the housing while the left-hand end of the actuator rides along the same surface of the housing on the rollers 18. A pair of ears is provided for restraining the left-hand end of the actuator from upward movement.

The actuator 15 may be moved to the right in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 by counterclockwise rotation of a rod 29 which is pivotally mounted in the opposed walls of the'housing. An arm 21 which is secured to the rodlt) extends outwardly therefrom (downwardly in Fig. 1) such that it may engage a shoulder 22 formed on the actuator 15. More specifically, a section of the web portion of the actuator is removed as may be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the shoulder 22 being the left-hand edge of the remaining right-hand section of the Web portion of the actuator 15. When the rod 219 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction the lever 21 and the actuator 15 will be drawn 3 to the right against the action of the spring 19 to the positions illustrated in Fig. 4.

The rod 20 is connected atiboth of its ends to a handle 23.; As may. be seen in-Figsl, 2 and. 4 the handle is bail-shaped, having two parallel arms 23a and an interconnecting bail portion 235. This forms a rugged and easily operated construction which, at the same time projects. only a relatively short distance outwardly of the front surface of the door 11. As may be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 4, movement of the h dle 23 in an outward or counterclockwise direction, serves to draw the actuator to the right.

The; cam surfaces on the latch bolt, referred to above, for. cooperating. with the cam roller 16 include a substantially flat locking surface 25 and an arcuate cocking surface 25. The cam roller 16 is free to rotate as it travels along these surfaces since it does not contact the web portion of the channel-shaped housing as do the adjoining rollers 13. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings an opening 28 is provided in the web, portion of the housing immediately adjacent the cam rol or 16 specifically to avoid contact between the cam roller 16 and the housing 1% "l /hen the latch mechanism is in the position illustrated in. Fig. i the cam roller 16 is engaged with the locking surface 25 of the latch bolt and it may be seen that the latch bolt is urged in a counterclockwise direction by the cam roller. More specifically, the spring 1'? urges the actuator 15 and the cam roller 16 to the left in Fig. l. The left-hand end of the actuator is restrained from moving downwardly Fig. l by virtue of the engagement of the rollers 18 with the web portion of the housing 1t) and accordingly the cam roller 16 urges the cam surface 25 of the latch bolt upwardly. Because of the angle of the cam surface 25 with respect to the direction of force applied to the cam roller 16 by the spring 19, the force of the sprin is multiplied as applied to the latch bolt. Accordingly, the latch bolt is urged in a counterclockwise direction with a force several times the magnitude of the force of the spring 19. This is the closed position of. the latch mechanism and in this position a keeper engaging portion 35 of the latch bolt 12 is intended toengage the inner surface of a suitable keeper 31.

The counterclockwise torque applied to the latch bolt 12 by the spring l9 actin; through the cam roller 16, urges the keeper engaging portion 39 of the latch bolt forcibly against the lt er to draw the latch mechanism and a door with which it may cooperate into closed position. In, the preferred em OdllHSl'lt of the invention the latch mechanism is mountec on the door 11 as shown, while the keeper 31 is secured to a corresponding door frame. It is to be understood, however, that the latch mechanism may alternatively be mounted on the door frame of a cabinet and a suitable keep-er secured to a cooperating cabinet door. In either case it may readily be arranged that the force applied by the latch bolt 12 to the keeper 31 urges the door with which the latch mechanism cooperates toward its closed position.

When the handle 23 is operated to draw the actuator 15 to the right the cam roller 16 is withdrawn such that the latch bolt 32 may rotate in a clockwise direction under the influence of the spring 14 to the position illustrated in Fig. 4. When the handle 23 is then released the cam roller 16 will engage the cam surface 26 of the latch bolt.

It will be seen in Fig. 4 that the point at which the cam roller 16 contacts the cam surface 26 is slightly below the pivotal axis of the latch bolt 12. Since the force applied by the cam roller 16 to the cam surface 26 of the latch bolt is necessarily normal to the cam surface at the point of contact, the line of force also passes slightly below the pivotal axis of the latch bolt.

Accordingly, the latchbolt is actually urged to rotate in a clockwise direction by the spring 19 acting through the cam roller "'16. Clockwise movement of the latch 4 bolt is limited by contact of the cam surface against the housing 10, as seen in Fig. 4. position of the latch bolt, and it will be seen in Fig. 4 that in this position the keeper engaging portion or the latch bolt is withdrawn to a position in which it may no longer engage the keeper 31. The door 11 may there fore be opened, and the latch bolt will remain in its cocked position; even though the handle 23-. is released.

If the door is now swung toward its closed position, it may be seen in Fig. 4 that a tripper arm 32, forming a part or the latch bolt, will strike the outer surface ofthe keeper 31 and a force will be applie to the latch bolt through the tripper arm 32 tending to rotate latch bolt in a counterclockwise direction: A relatively small force is required to cause counterclockwise rotation of the latch bolt 12 since the sp 'ing 14 is of relatively light weight and since the force applied to the latch bolt by the spring 19;, acting through the cam roller 16 passes close by the pivotal axis of the latch bolt. In other words the force applied by the spring 19 to the latch bolt may be substantial but the, torque resulting therefrom is small when the latch bolt is in the position illustrated in Fig. 4.

Counterclockwise rotation of the latch bolt by the keeper 31 through a fairly small angle causes the earn roller 36 to leave the cam surface 26 and to roll over the peak formed by the intersecting cam surfaces 25 and 2 6 As the cam roll r passes substantially onto this peak, it will be readily seen that die force applied to the latch bolt 12 through the cam roller id is directed along a line which passes above the pivotal axis of the latch bolt and acco -gly urges the latch bolt in a. counterclockwise direction. keeper engaging portion 3b of the latch bolt then pivots into engagement with the rearward or inner surface of the keeper 31 and the continued force applied to the latch bolt by the cam roller moves the latch mechanism forcibly into closed position.

As the cam roller passes completely over the peak formed by the intersections of the cam surfaces 25 and 26 of the latch bolt, and engages the cam surface 25" a greatly magnified force is applied to the latch bolt as explained above. This large force serves to compress a sealing gasket 3 between the door and the door'frame during the last stages of the closing of the door. This magnified force also serves, of course, to retain the door forcefully in its closed position.

if the door is moved toward its closed position with just sufficient force to trip the latch bolt, that is to rotate the latch bolt; through a suficient angle in a counterclockwise direction that the spring 1% acting through the cam roller 16 tends to urge the latch bolt 12 further in a counterclockwise direction, the latch mechanism will of itself carry the door further in a closing direction with substantial force. This is particularly desirable where the latch mechanism isemployed on a refrigerator since the closing force applied to the door by the latch mechanism may serve to compress the sealing gasket betwe n the door nd he do r r me th s f ent f c and over a sufiicient distance to assure an effective seal between the door and the door frame. a

After the handle 23 is operated to open the door, that is to. move the, latch mechanism from its keeper engaging position to its cocked position, it is preferred that the handle be returned automatically to its normal position even though the latch mechanism remains in its cocked posit pn. A spring guide, in the form of a. spring bar 35', is provided a); this purpose at the r ght-hand end of the housing as may be seen in Figs. l, 2 and 4. The right hand end of the spring bar extends through a slit 36 in the right-hand end of the housing and has a slot 37 through which a pin 38 passes, this pin being secured to the opposed walls of the housing 1%. The spring bar is further guided by a pair of arms lilo which are struck from th web port-ion of; the channel-shaped housing 10.

A spring 39 is arranged around the right-hand portion This is the cockedroller in place thereof, where conditions make of the spring bar and is compressed between the righthand wall of the housing and shoulders 35a formed on the spring bar 35. The spring-r 39 thereby urges the spring bar 35 to the left in Figs. 1 and 2. The left-hand end of the spring bar 35 terminates adjacent the shoulder 22 of the actuator 15, both the spring bar and the actuator being engageable by the arm 21 which is secured to the rod 29.

As the handle '23 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to release the latch and open the door, the arm 2i r'ves the spring bar 35 to the right against the action of the spring 39, as well as moving the bolt actuator 15 to the right against the action of the spring 19. When the latch bolt has been released from the keeper 31, the actuator 15 and the spring 19 are retained in cocked position as previously explained. However, the spring bar 35 and the spring 39, which are independent of the bolt actuator 15, continue to urge the arm 21 toward the left. Accordingly, when the handle 23 is released it will be returned to its normal position illustrated in Pig. 1 under the influence of the spring 39 and the spring bar 35.

it may be seen in Figs. l and 4 that the arm 21 is bent around the rod 253 and terminates in a substantially planar portion at the right-hand side of the rod. When the handle 23 is released, this planar surface of the arm 21 is engaged by a shoulder 35b of the spring bar 35. This serves as a stop for limiting the movement of the spring bar 35 toward the left. This construction provides further that the handle 23 may be forced inwardly toward the freezing compartment door 11 from the position illustrated in Fig. 1, such movement driving the spring bar 35 to the right against the action of the spring 39 as may readily be understood upon examination of Fig. 1. Accordingly, when the handle 23 is released, it will be returned to the position illustrated in Fig. l regardless of whether it has previously been displaced in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

This provision for clockwise rotation of the handle 23 from the position illustrated in Fig. l is made to permit closer spacing than would otherwise be possible between the freezing compartment door 11 and the main outer refrigerator door seen in the drawings. When the freezing compartment door if has been closed and latched and as the outer door is moved toward its closed position, the inner surface of the outer door may strike the handle 23 shortly before that door has reached its full closed position. Further closing movement of the outer door merely pivots tie handle 23 in a clockwise direction. When the outer door is again opened the spring 3 and the spring bar 35 return the handle 23 to the position illustrated in Pig. 1 whereby the operators fingers may readily be inserted behind the handle to draw it further outwardly and unlatch the freezing compartment door. Where this construction is contemplated, it is desirable of course, that a strike plate of suitable character be arranged on the inner surface of the outer door where it comesinto contact with the handle 23, since repeated contact of a porcelain surface with the handle 23 would cause marring of such porcelain surface.

It has previously been stated that in the preferred embodiment the latch bol i2 is so designed that the cam surfaces 25 and 26 engage only the central cam roller 16, this being desirable since the cam roller 16 does not engage any portion of the frame of the latch mechanism, other than the pin 17, and is therefore free to rotate over the cam surfaces of the latch bolt. "How over, either or both of the cam surfaces 25 and as may be made to contact all three rollers 16 and 18, or a single it desirable to have a larger area of contact between the rollers and the cam surfaces. Where proper materials are employed, there may be relatively little frictional wear resulting from the fact that the rollers 13 may be urged to rotate in opposite directions by virtue of their contact with both 6 the cam surfaces and the tracks provided on the frame of the latch mechanism. a

The refrigerator construction illustrated and described is believed to be unique in that it provides a sealed freezing compartment. Employment of this feature of the invention prevents entrance of a substantial amount of heat into the freezing compartment each time that the outer refrigerator door is opened as has been the case in refrigerators having the conventional thin and loosely fitting freezing compartment door.

At the same time waste space between the freezing compartment door and the outer refrigerator door has been kept small by virtue of'the collapsible handle construction for the freezing compartment door latch.

It will readily be seen that the sliding and rolling linear movement of the actuator 15 provides a very durable medium for transmitting forces from the spring 19 to the latch bolt 12, and that friction in the movement of the actuator 15 is reduced to a minimum through the use of the rollers 18. Furthermore, the sliding movement of the actuator 15 facilitates the efficient transmission of force from the arm 2ft to the actuator. The location of the cam roller 16 on the actuator for cooperation with the cam surfaces 25 and 26 on the latch bolt provides a structure which is rugged and which exerts a powerful closing force when the cam roller engages the cam surface 25, and which may yet be delicately balanced when the cam roller engages the cam surface 26.

The sliding spring bar 35 which serves to return the handle 23 to its normal position when the latter is released is reliable and rugged in construction while at the same time being very efficient and easy to operate.

The bail type handle is also very rugged in construction and at the same time may be made attractive in appearance.

It will be apparent that the invention may be varied in its physical embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is desired, therefore, that the invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

p The inventionhaving thus been described, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a refrigerator having a general storage compartment, a freezing compartment, 21 single outer door, a freezing compartment door, and a sealing gasket for said freezing compartment door; a latch mechanism for releasably holding said freezing compartment door closed and for maintaining said gasket under compression,'. a handle for operating said latch mechanism, said handle normally being positioned outwardly of and substantially removed from the outer surface of said freezing compartment door and being movable outwardly of said freezing compartment door to release said latch mechanism, spring means coacting with said handle for permitting said handle to be resiliently movable inwardly toward said freezing compartment door from said normal position.

'2. In a latch mechanism for mounting on a door, a bolt member movable between a keeper engaging position and a cocked position, a spring biased bolt actuator movable between a normal position corresponding to the keeper engaging position of said bolt member and an energized position corresponding to the cocked position of said bolt member, a bail shaped-handle pivotable between a neutral position and an actuated position, the hail of said handle being located outwardly of said door and the ends thereof being located inwardly of said bolt actuator, an operating member extending between and secured to said ends, said operating memher being engageable with said actuator for moving said actuator to said energized position as said handle is pivoted from said neutral position to said actuated position, said. handle being returnable to said neutral position wliile'said actuator remains in said energized position, and handle returnmeans' comprising a spring and *as ring snide, sai spr ng ui e e ng sl dab parall to. andv substantially in alignment with the movement; of; said t r nd. being e eable with said op rating incur be, m d. sp i g eing energ ze y Pivotal movemen of ai han le from said n utral p it on to said act ated position whereby said handle, when released may be et rned to s id n utral position by said handle return $32 31 3- n a latch mechanism, a supporting frame, a bolt member pivotable with respect to said frame between a keeper engaging position and a cooked position, a bolt actuator movable with respect to said frame between a normal position corresponding to said keeper engaging position of said bolt member and an energized position corresponding to said cocked position of said bolt membet, cam means interconnecting said bolt member and (me end of said actuator, a roller on said one end of Said actuator, and a track surface on said frame, said roller being arranged to roll along said track surface as. said actuator moves between said normal position and said energized position, said roller being maintained against ,said track surface by forces transmitted from said bolt member through said cam elements to said one end of said actuator.

4. In a latch mechanism, a supporting frame, a bolt member pivotable with respect to said frame between a keeper engaging position and a cocked position, a bolt actuator substantially linearly movable with respect to said frame between a normal position corresponding to said keeper engaging position of said bolt member and an energized position corresponding to said cooked position of said bolt member, cam means interconnecting said bolt member and one end of said actuator, rollers mounted on a common pin on said one end of said aetuator, and a track surface on said frame, one of said rollers constituting a portion of said cam means, another of said rollers being arranged to roll along said track surface as said actuator moves between said normal position and said energized position, said other roller being maintained against said track surface by forces transmitted from said bolt member through said; cam elements to said one end of said actuator.

5'. In a latch mechanism, a supporting frame, a bolt member pivotable with respect to said frame between t.

a keeper engaging position and a cocked position, van elongated bolt actuator substantially linearly and longitudinally movable with respect to said frame between a normal position corresponding to said keeper engaging position of said bolt member and an energized position corresponding to said cocked position of said bolt member, cam means interconnecting said bolt member and one end of said actuator, rollers mounted on a common pin on said one end of said actuator, and a track surface on said frame, one of said rollers constituting a portion of said cam means, another or said rollers being arranged to roll along said track surface as said actuator mo e en said n rm Position and. sai ne giz Po it on, a d other. r l er be n mai ta n ga nst sai track surface by forces transmitted from said bolt men}:

her through said cam elements to said one end of said actuator.

n a t h m chanism a supp rt n rame olt memb pi otab e wi h r pe t to said fram b tween a ke per engagingposition and a cocked position, a'ibolt actuator movable with respect to said frame between a normal position corresponding tov saidkeeper engaging position of said bolt member and an energized position corresponding to said cocked position of said bolt memher, a pair of cam elements interconnecting said bolt member and one end of said actuator, a pair of rollers mounted on a common pin on said one end of said actuatonana' a air 9t t aszh rf ces on sa d sunrortinatranie sa d rol ers be ng at angedto. roll .alengfsaid track-sinaces as said a tu to m s e en a d n r P s t en. and s d e srs zsd p siti n. aid r l e n m n tained against said track surface by forces transmitted from said bolt member through said cam elements to said one end of said actuator, one of said cam elements being a cam roller rotatable about said common pin and arranged between said rollers.

7. In a latch mechanism, a supporting frame, a bolt member pivotable with respect to said frame between a keeper engaging position and a cocked position, a bolt actuator movable with respect to said frame between a normal position corresponding to said keeper engaging position of said bolt member and an energized position corresponding to said cocked position of said bolt memoer, a pair of cam elements interconnecting said bolt ember and one end of said actuator, a pair of rollers on said one end of said actuator rotatably mounted on a common pin, and a pair of track surfaces on said supporting frame, said rollers being arranged to'roll along said track surfaces as said actuator moves between said normal position and said energized position, said rollers being maintained against said track surface by forces transmitted from said bolt member through said cam elements to said one end of said actuator, one of said cam elements being a cam roller rotatable about said common pin and arranged between said rollers, said sup-' porting frame being cut away adjacent said cam roller to permit free rotation of said cam roller with respect to said frame.

8. In a latch mechanism, a bolt member movable between a keeper engaging position and a cooked position, a spring biased bolt actuator slidable between a normal position corresponding to the keeper engaging position of said bolt member and an energized position corresponding to the cocked position of said bolt member, operating means pivotable between a neutral position and an actuated position, said operating means being engageable with said actuator for moving said actuator to said energized position as said operating means is pivoted from said neutral position to said actuated position, said operating means being returnable to said neutral position while said actuator remains in said energized position, and return means comprising a spring and a spring guide for returning said operating means to said neutral position, said spring guide being slidable parallel to and substantially in alignment with the movement of said actuator and being engageable with said operating means, said spring being energized by pivotal movement of said operating means from said neutral position to said actuated position whereby said operating means when released may be returned to said neutral position by said return means.

9. In a latch mechanism, a bolt member movable between a keeper engaging position and a cocked position, a spring biased bolt actuator slidable between a normal position corresponding to the keeper engaging position of said bolt member and an energized position corresponding to the cocked position of said bolt member, a handle pivotable between a neutral position and an actuated position, said handle bein-g engageable with said actuator for moving said actuator to said energized position as said handle is pivoted from said neutral position to said actuated position, said handle being returnable to said neutral position while said actuator remains in said energized position, and handle return means comprising a spring and a spring guide, said spring guide being slidable parallel to'and substantially in alignment with the movement of said actuator and being engageable with said handle, said spring being energized by pivotal movement of said handle from said neutral position to said actuatecl'position whereby said handle when released may be returned to said neutral position by said handle return means.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bartholomew Dec. 17, 1918 Anderson Aug. 30, 1921 Craft Feb. 25, 1930 Russ et a1 Jan. 20, 1931 De Voe Oct. 10, 1933 Palley et a1. Aug. 9, 1938 

